The Summer to Remember

Chicago, Illinois

Ian:

We weren't able to sleep past like, seven, because a.) the car was extremely uncomfortable, b.) the birds outside were loud as hell, and c.) the car had no blinds, so it was extremely bright. So, we made it to Chicago around nine. We didn't even have a hotel, because we had both been here a few times, and our next stop, Indianapolis, was only three hours away.

We went to the Sears Tower first, because, come on. It's really the coolest thing about the city. After taking like, twenty minutes to find a parking garage, we bought our tickets to go up. Then came waiting in the line (which wasn't too long since it was so early, but still too long for our liking), where we met a few girls who were apparently our "biggest fans," and finally, the elevator ride.

There must have been like, seventy people packed into one giant elevator. I had been on this at least five or six times in my life, but this was by far the worst. Anthony was squeezed right up next to me, stiff as a board. His hands were shaking slightly and I could hear his breath shorting, which always happened to him around large crowds of people. I just barely touched his hand, startling him a little, and he looked down at me. I smiled reassuringly, and I felt him relax a little, and then after one hundred and eight stories of ear-popping later, the doors opened, and I had never been more grateful for large spaces.

We escaped everyone and rushed over to the least-occupied window, getting as close to the glass as possible. We looked straight out it, and I smiled a little. The view was just so cool. The whole entire city; all the buildings, Lake Michigan, everything, right there.

"We have to go on that new thing over there," Anthony said, shifting his eyes from the view for just half a second to glance at me.

"What thing?" I questioned.

"That Skydeck thing. That everyone's in line for."

"What is it?"

He laughed a little. "Wait, you didn't hear about it? They put it in like, a year ago. It's like a glass box you can just stand on."

I felt my heart race pick up a little. "Uh, I don't know..."

"Come on, man!" He looked at me, and his face fell a little. "You aren't scared of heights, are you?! Dude, we go on planes all the time-"

"I'm not scared of heights," I interrupted him. "I just don't really feel comfortable trusting a piece of glass to hold me a hundred stories above the ground."

"Come on, dude. It's been up for a year. Millions of people have been on it, most of them probably being really fat." He smirked a little. "You're not that fat."

I rolled my eyes and huffed. "Fine. But if we die. I'm blaming you."

*

After a half hour or so of waiting, I was standing in front of a tiny glass box, hanging off the side of one of the tallest buildings ever. I felt my stomach flip. No, I wasn't scared of heights, and I never have been. I was scared of falling.

"Alright, let's go," Anthony said, stepping forward.

His foot hit the glass, but I couldn't move mine. I just watched as he entered the glass and smiled a little as he looked down, and up, and all around. Then, he turned back to me and smiled.

"Come on, man!" he yelled. He then proceeded to jump up and down to prove it was safe, which actually didn't do anything but put some horrible visions in my head.

He rolled his eyes and ran over. He grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me over, forcing me onto the glass deathtrap.

My breath caught in my throat as I looked around, and my eyes grew. I was alive, and I was standing over the whole city. I laughed nervously, then bit my tongue as I looked down. That sent my stomach into a churning spree, because it really looked like I was floating this high in the air. But, after a minute I felt completely safe. The glass was sturdy... Or maybe it was the fact that Anthony was still holding onto my wrist.

*

After the tower, we grabbed a late breakfast/early lunch (brunch?) at the Rainforest Cafe, because no matter how old you get, that place will always be fucking awesome. Yes, some of the moving animals are terrifying, but watching the mechanical gorillas drum their mechanical arms on their mechanical chests while roaring a mechanical roar never seemed to get old.

Feeling in the animal spirit, we next headed off to Shedd's Aquarium. I hadn't been there since I was maybe thirteen, and really wanted to go back. So, we did. We spent a good few hours there, looking at all the cool fish and stingrays and coral. 

Despite the fact that there was so much more we could have done, we both agreed we were still lacking too much sleep to function properly. And I knew we would come back here again someday, so I didn't wanna spend too much time in the Windy City. So, we took a quick nap in the car (with Anthony in the front seat this time, unfortunately), and were soon on our way to Indianapolis.

A/N: Guys I fucking love Chicago okay like I've been there at least ten or eleven times and let me tell you it's the coolest place ever okay. How ya likin this so far? See ya latah c: